Professor Alan Ahearne:

I was not critical but I said it was puzzling that he said it was a mistake when it had to go to the Commission for legislative approval and it approved the guarantee. Under the legislation it can approve an intervention like that only under certain conditions. I cannot remember the exact terms. The Deputy may have them in front of him, something like if the intervention is appropriate and proportionate. If it deemed the guarantee to be an appropriate, proportionate and not excessive response in approving it, how could it then be a mistake? That puzzled me and I said that might be clarified at some stage.